Summary for August 1945 - 319 BG
What follows is the narrative section excerpt from the 319th Bomb Group's monthly summary for August, 1945, as told by the Unit's historian, 1st Lt. Frank A. Hilliard.
HISTORY FOR PERIOD 1 AUGUST 1945 TO 31 AUGUST 1945
Old man weather did his bit to keep the 319th Bombardment Group grounded for the first five days in August. He turned awry the plans for a large scale bombing of the Nagasaki Marshalling Yards in Kyushu on the First of August, which were to be a part of the Army Air Forces Day celebration. The planes did take off on that day but were forced to return to base because of a front encountered halfway to the target.
The first mission of the month was flown on the Fifth of August against the factory and built up area along the waterfront along the southern part of Tarumizu, Kyushu. This was to be a low-level mission. Rockets, fire bombs, .50 cal ammunition were used against the installations. Bomb hits were not observed, but smoke was seen rising to five thousand feet after the break and pull up off the target. *1 - see Final Mission Reports in the Appended Documents Section.
The first enemy fighters observed in the air in this theater by crews of the 319th, were observed on the Tsuiki mission of 7 August. This was the longest strike that the 319th had made on Kyushu and it had been known that enemy air power had been drawn to the northern part of the island of Kyushu. P51s from our strip here at Machinato went along as escort on this mission and the enemy aircraft stayed at a respectful distance from the formation.
Returning crewmen from the mission against Kanoya Airfield on the Ninth of August reported that they saw a brilliant flash and then a large dust cloud which rose to 35,000 feet while they were making their break from the target of Kanoya. The reported flash was observed to be approximately thirty miles North of Kanoya. It is presumed that the flash and smoke originated from Nagasaki where a B-29 from the XXth Air Force reportedly dropped an "Atom" bomb that morning.
August 10: There was a certain amount of tension in the air due to the gigantic, one, two, three punch leveled at Japan in the preceding four days. Strike One: Hiroshima destroyed. Strike Two: Powerful Soviet armies break across the Amur River into Manchuria and Korea following the USSR's declaration of war against the Nippons. Strike Three: Another atom bomb, Nagasaki pulverized and the mighty Third Fleet shelling the homeland of the Nips only two hundred miles north of Tokoyo Bay. What would be the next step? Would the fleet enter Tokoyo Harbor? It was not considered impossible - and no one would have been surprised.... how long could it last?
Colonel Holzapple said in the briefing of August the Tenth, "Boys, it's not over yet, and we'll pound them until they quit. We are here to fight the war." The mission was another low-level strike - against installations in Kumamoto, Kyushu. It was an effective one, fires were started and explosions were seen. It was a tough one, too. Twelve ships were damaged, mostly by fly-debris; four had minor mid-air collisions because of the poor visibility caused by the smoke and fires created by the first wave. Home again: the ground crews took over. Flyers grabbed some rest after interrogation and critique...
Another day, another mission had to be prepared. The Nips had not yelled quits... Then it happened: At approximately 21:15 the radio announced that Japan was suing for peace along the general lines of the Potsdam Declaration. The word spread like wildfire. It wasn't V-J Day, but the handwriting was on the wall. Wild shouts of joy. Drinks from long-hoarded bottles. Firing of weapons - and a spectacle it was; Myriads of green and red flares were rising in the sky, tracer ammunition weaving eerie, snakelike columns across the sky, searchlights, heavy anti-aircraft fire; every ship in the harbor and every gun on the shore was adding its stream of enthusiasm to this uncontrolled river of madness. It was something never to be forgotten. As the hysteria reached its climax, the air raid siren sounded, lights and noise gradually subsided and there was a feeling of strange relief and incredibility in the vacuous silence of the night.
11 August 1945, the morning after. Another mission. The last mission? Would it be called off? It wasn't. Briefing. Planes off at 0803. today it was the Toso Marshalling Yards. All bombs away in the target area....back again to where all who can are listening to the radio. How are negotiations proceeding? Where did the B-29s hit? What about the (B-)24's that didn't drop because there were people in the street waving white flags? - Radio Tokyo laments the use of the Atomic Bomb. Tension! Waiting! Briefing in the evening.
12 Aug 1945. Planes off at 0637 for the Chiren Airfield, Kyushu. Weather bad over the target. Hits reported. Fires started.
That afternoon, the afternoon of the 12th of August, the 319th flew its 515th mission of the war, and its' 22nd against the Nips - its last. Weather good to the target, but an enormous cumulus build up right over the Kanoya A/D and the formation was forced to drop on the alternate target.
August 13th passed without any definite news on the peace negotiations. No mission. Tension rose.
On the morning of the 14th, Colonel Holzapple addressed the Group, congratulating all the men for their unparalleled achievement in setting up operation so rapidly and running it so effectively with maximum damage to the enemy and no losses for us. He announced that the planes would leave that afternoon for the Philippines in order that our field could be used for planes carrying the Occupation Forces to Japan. The order was later countermanded. News was heard of Secretary of State Byrnes' answer to the Japanese bid, but the final decision tarried. Operation Orders for a mission on the 15th reached the squadrons. During the night the order was canceled.
15 August 1945: A warm sunshiny day on Okinawa. No mission. An alert during the night. In this atmosphere of feverish uncertainty, it was impossible to accomplish much. Then came the news that the Japanese answer was on its way to Washington through Swiss Diplomatic channels. The Jap radio, the Domei News Agency, announced that the Potsdam Terms were acceptable. In Washington, President Truman tells the nation that he has received a satisfactory answer from Tokyo and that a proclamation would be made in the near future, officially terminating all hostilities.
The operational phase of World War II was at an end, and the Colonel's prophecy that we would be in the thick of it until the end, was fulfilled. The trail of missions from the dark day of North Africa, across the Mediterranean, up through Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, from B-26 to B-25, then back to the states, the A-26, and the final blow, the death of Fascism, on Okinawa. There was no excitement, no celebration, when the news was finally announced. There was a vast sense of relief. And there was a new and pressing question to be answered, the question that follows any job well done - what next? The time of rumors: old rumors, new rumors, good rumors - remain here, go home, Japan, China, points - how many points? Impetus was added to the point question when the group was awarded a Battle Star to the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon on the 15th. *1. How many more do we get? What about our attacks on China and Japan? Is that ten more points?
During the afternoon of the 15th, orders were sent down to the squadrons to prepare all ships for movement to the Philippines the following day. (See Appended Documents Section - SO #51). Crew members and mechanics worked all night, and the next morning 57 A-26's left Machinato for Dulag Field, Leyte, Philippines. (See Appended Document Section - Operations Order #5).
The afternoon of the 16th brought good news to many of the squadron enlisted men. It was the day of promotion, and all men who held a position vacancy for promotion were promoted.
The Point System began to work on the 18th of August when many of the old members of the group, who had been with the group since the ETO, were alerted to go home. They were flown to the Philippines and there await transfer home.
It was announced that General MacArthur would have headquarters on Okinawa, so on the 20th of August several men from each squadron were sent to Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, on detached service to perform the necessary tasks of making the General's headquarters "ship-shape".
General Doolittle payed the group area a visit on the 22nd of August, and he and the Colonel (Holzapple) made an informal inspection of the area. The General was non-committal, but he was smiling, so we assume that he was pleased.
The second group meeting was held on the 27th. Colonel Holzapple announced that the VIIth Air Force would in all probability be the occupational force for the Ryukyu Islands, and he presented plans for the University of Okinawa, an educational project of the group. The University is under the supervision of the I and E Officer, 1st Lt. Jess W. Peebles, and it promises to be the "Ace in the Hole" when it comes to profitable using idle time. Classrooms are being set-up through the group area and everything from mess halls to supply tents are being used for classrooms. It is planned to have an area set aside for the University and to erect pyramidal tents for the sole use of classrooms.
The Special Services End of the off-duty time project was under full swing during the latter part of August too. Softball Diamonds were constructed in two of the squadron areas, and help was given to each of the squadrons in building an Enlisted Mens' Club. Two of the clubs were complete at the end of the month and the softball league was in full swing.
-FRANK A. HILLIARD
1st Lt, Air Corps,
Act'g Gp Historian